How to Become a Deputy Sheriff in Florida

Broward County
Hillsborough County
Miami Dade
Orange County
Palm Beach County

Broward County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Broward County, Florida Sheriff’s Office (954-321-4400) provides law enforcement and fire rescue services to a multitude of municipalities, as well as the Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Port Everglades, and the Broward County Courthouse.

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Hillsborough County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Florida (813-247-8200) is a full-service law enforcement agency that includes more than 4,000 detention deputies, law enforcement officers, and civilians.

If you want a Hillsborough County, Florida Sheriff Deputy job there are a number of steps you must take. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to become a Hillsborough County Sheriff Deputy:

Achieve state certification
Meet all minimum qualifications for Hillsborough County Deputy Sheriff jobs
Submit a profile and take a pre-screen questionnaire
Successfully pass the Physical Abilities Assessment (PAA)
Undergo a personal interview and a polygraph examination
Undergo an oral interview
Undergo a background investigation
Be referred for selection and receive a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE)
Complete the final phase of pre-employment testing
Complete training

Step 1: Obtain State Certification

The State of Florida requires that all sworn police offers complete a law enforcement program through an accredited college or approved state training center in Florida and pass the state’s certification exam (or equivalent). You can learn more about the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Basic Recruit Certificate of Compliance here.

Step 2: Meet Qualifications for Hillsborough County Deputy Sheriff Jobs

To qualify for Hillsborough County Deputy Sheriff jobs you must meet the minimum qualifications set forth by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Department. All applicants must:

Be at least 21 years of age
Be a United States citizen
Possess a valid driver’s license (and a valid Florida’s driver license at the time of your appointment)
Possess a certified copy of your birth certificate
Possess a Social Security card
Have no tattoos that are visible to the public while wearing the standard uniform
No history of drug use
Have no felony convictions or history of domestic violence, providing false statements, or perjury
Have not used tobacco within 6 months of applying for employment
Live in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, or Manatee County at the time of appointment

Step 3: Submit a Profile and Take a Pre-Screen Questionnaire

All applicants must submit a profile and take a pre-screen questionnaire to determine if they meet all of the minimum requirements to achieve Hillsborough County Sheriff Department jobs.

To create a profile you must access the Profile Portal on the HSCO Careers Page. The Recruitment and Screening office will contact you if you qualify for Hillsborough County Deputy Sheriff jobs. You will then be given directions on completing the Physical Abilities Assessment (PAA).

Step 4: Successfully pass the Physical Abilities Assessment (PAA)

All law enforcement deputies of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office must successfully pass a Physical Abilities Assessment (PAA). Before you can take the PAA you must submit a Medical Clearance form completed by your physician.

The PAA is performed at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Training Division, 1409 North Falkenburg Road, North Tampa, FL 33619. At the time of the PAA you will be expected to bring a number of required documents with you, including:

Civil service notification including FBAT/CJBAT scores
high school and college transcripts
Resume
Copy of birth certificate
Two copies of your driver’s license
Two copies of your Social Security card
Copy of military discharge papers (if applicable)

Step 5: Undergo a Personal Interview and a Polygraph Examination

Once you successfully pass the PAA you will be contacted to schedule an interview at which time your employment application will be reviewed with you. In addition, you should expect to be fingerprinted, to be photographed, and to undergo a polygraph.

Step 6: Undergo an Oral Interview

Individuals who pass the personal interview and polygraph examination are then asked to stand in front of an Oral Board, which consists of three ranking members of the Sheriff’s Office Command staff. Only those candidates who pass this phase of the pre-employment process are eligible to complete employment processing.

Step 7: Undergo a Background Investigation

The background investigation portion of the pre-employment process is only available to candidates who have successfully completed all other phases.

Step 8: Be Referred for Selection and Receive a Conditional Offer of Employment (COE)

Candidates who have completed all stages of the pre-employment process are referred for Selection, and a select few receive a Conditional officer of Employment (COE).

Step 9: Complete the Final Phase of Pre-employment Testing

Should you receive and accept a Conditional Offer of Employment you will be scheduled to complete the final phase, which includes taking a pre-employment drug test, a psychological evaluation, and a second polygraph examination. Once you have successfully completed the drug test, psychological evaluation, and polygraph examination you will be placed into a pool of eligible candidates.

Step 10: Complete Training

Those selected from the pool of eligible candidates will attend a two-week Sheriff’s Orientation Training, a six-month police academy, and 8 to 10 weeks of module training.

Miami Dade County Sheriff Department / Police Officer Jobs

The Miami-Dade County, Florida Police Department employs 2,900 sworn officers, all of whom are tasked with promoting a safe and secure environment by maintaining order and providing the safe flow of traffic.

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Orange County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office (407-254-7000), which provides law enforcement services to Orange County, Florida, is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in the southeastern United States, employing more than 2,400 sworn officers and civilian employees. In addition to the more than one million residents within the jurisdiction, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for an additional 45 million tourists who visit Orange County every year.

If you want to learn how to become an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy, follow this step-by-step guide for a chance to fill open jobs:

Meet all basic minimum qualifications for Orange County Sheriff Department jobs
Submit an application for employment
Take the Physical Abilities test
Take the Written Skills test
Undergo a Voice Stress Analysis test
Complete a Panel Interview
Pass the swim test
Undergo fingerprinting and a background investigation
Receive a conditional job offer and complete employment processing

Step 1. Become a Certified Officer in Florida

To obtain Orange County Deputy Sheriff jobs you must graduate from a law enforcement program through an approved state training center in Florida or through an accredited college and successfully pass Florida’s state certification exam (or equivalent). You can obtain more information about the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Basic Recruit Certificate of Compliance here.

Step 2. Verify you Meet Qualifications for Orange County Sheriff Department Jobs

To qualify for Orange County Deputy Sheriff jobs you must meet a set of minimum requirements, which include:

You must be at least 20 years old
You must be a U.S. citizen
You must have a valid driver’s license for at least one year
You must have two or fewer moving violations in the last 3 years
You must have no convictions for DUI in the last 5 years
You must have no felony convictions
You must have no misdemeanors related to domestic violence or purgery
You must have no dishonorable discharge
You must have no used illegal drugs in the past 3 years
You must be in good, physical condition

Step 3. Submit You Job Application

Because the Orange County Sheriff’s Office only accepts employment applications through their e-Recruiting system, it is important to check with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office website to see if applications are currently being accepted for Orange County Deputy Sheriff Jobs.

Once you have determined that the Sheriff’s Office is hiring for Orange County Deputy Sheriff jobs you can apply using the online application. Before you can apply, however, you must complete a Pre-Screener Questionnaire. Upon meeting the Department’s minimum requirements you will be directed to the employment application.

Step 4. Take the Physical Abilities Test

Only select candidates will be chosen to take the Physical Abilities Test and move on in the pre-employment process.

All candidates for sworn positions within the Orange County Sheriff’s Office must complete a Physical Abilities test, which includes:

15 push-ups in one minute or less
25 sit-ups in one minute or less
1.5-mile run in 18 minutes or less

Step 5. Take the Written Skills Test

The written skills test involves watching a video of a deputy taking a report. All candidates are required to take notes and complete a report following the video. You can expect to be scored on the number of facts you correctly reported, in addition to your spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Step 6. Undergo a Voice Stress Analysis Test

Only those individuals contacted by the Sheriff’s Department can move onto the next phase of the pre-employment process, which includes undergoing a Voice Stress Analysis (truth verification).

Step 7. Complete a Panel Interview

Those candidates who pass the Voice Stress Analysis are scheduled to complete a panel interview, which includes three sworn officers of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. You can expect to be asked a series of job-related questions during the interview.

Step 8. Pass the Swim Test

The swim test may be administered by any certified swim instructor at a local YMCA or city swimming pool.

Step 9. Undergo Fingerprinting and a Background Investigation

All candidates who are chosen to proceed with the employment process undergo fingerprinting and the background investigation.

You may also be required, at this time, to participate in a ride-along with a Deputy Sheriff (A Recruiter will schedule the ride-along for you.).

Step 10: Receive a Conditional Job Offer and Complete Employment Processing

Upon the successful completion of the fingerprinting and background investigation, chosen candidates will receive a conditional job offer. Once the conditional job offer is accepted, you must complete a medical exam, drugs screen, and a psychological evaluation.

The average processing time between application and job offer is about 4 to 6 months.

Palm Beach County Sheriff Department Jobs

The Palm Beach County, Florida Sheriff’s Office (561-688-3000) consists of 1,492 sworn law enforcement officers who are tasked with overseeing Palm Beach County’s nearly 2,400 square mile jurisdiction.

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